After a three years’ study in Italy, where he [Benjamin West] became imbued with the traditions of Academic art, but remained curiously insensible to the real excellences, especially that of colour, of the old masters, […]

So let me finally quote again from Véron who made a bitter fight against the fossilism of the old Academic Art of his day, one who may be said to be the real father of modern Individualism in æsthetics, and the best friend that mere “technicians” ever had.